96 toyota camry will not start or stay running with out stepping on the gas. my first thought is fuel pump or filter but it will get gas when stepping on pedal... any thoughts???

Forget that. If you had a bad pump, it wouldn't run at all at higher rpm. If the fuel filter was clogged, it would run horribly throughout the rpm range.




Clean the idle valve. It's probably clogged with carbon and the car is getting too little air when cranking/at idle - making it too rich to run.

Forget that. If you had a bad pump, it wouldn't run at all at higher rpm. If the fuel filter was clogged, it would run horribly throughout the rpm range.




Clean the idle valve. It's probably clogged with carbon and the car is getting too little air when cranking/at idle - making it too rich to run.

Thanks!! where exactly is the idle valve? it is my wifes car and I did take a quick look under the hood before heading off to work. I did see there are few different air lines and 2 or 3 differntly looking valves connect to the air lines.

Thanks!! where exactly is the idle valve? it is my wifes car and I did take a quick look under the hood before heading off to work. I did see there are few different air lines and 2 or 3 differntly looking valves connect to the air lines.
Check page EG!1 213 of the repair manual posted in this forum.

All you need to know is here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=3240915&postcount=32).

I had a similar problem with my 89 Camry. Turned out it was a faulty Coolant Temperature Sensor.